Spoke-lathe.



No. 639,294. Patented Dec. |9,|s99.j

LA FAYETTE s. omson.

S P 0 K E L A T H E.

(Application tiled Jan. 2B, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 639,294. Patented Dec. I9, |899. LA FAYETTE G. ROBINSON.

S P 0 K E L A T H E.

`(Application fxled Jan. 28, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-She'et 2. I

TH: News persas co. Fumo-mno.. wgsmNcroN, n. c.

STATES PATENT OEEICE.

LA FAYETTE G. ROBINSON, OE CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE J. A. FAYde EGAN COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPOKE-LATH E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,294, dated December19, 1899.

Application filed JanuaryZS, 1899. Serial No. 703,665. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LA FAYETTE G. ROBIN- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State ofOhio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inSpoke-Lathes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates vto that class of spokelathes in which the spoke isturned to conlo form to a predetermined pattern; and it consists inproviding a way or rail for the cutterhead frame which is capable ofadjustment, refinishing, and replacement, so that it may be continuouslymaintained in proper' correlar5 tion with the feed-screw, the vibratingframe which carries the centers supporting the pattern and work to beturned, and the countershaft, and, further, in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts herezo inafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved device;Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, omitting the upper end ofthe vibrating frame; Fig. 3, a detail showing in front elevation, partlyin section, a part of the rail and its support; Fig. 4, a transversesection of same; and Fig. 5 a detail showing in plan view, partly insection, the rear part of the cutter-head carriage in 3o connection withits rail and operating-screw.

A represents the frame or shears of the machine, B the cutter-headcarriage, and C the feed-screw for operating the same. The carriage B isprovided with rolls b b b h', mounted 3 5 upon pins 122192 793123. Therolls travel on ways or rails D D in the frame of the machine. The rollsI9/ b maybe flat in cross-section at their circumference; but I providethe rolls b with a circumferential groove b4, prefer ably of a V shape,taking over and traveling upon the rail D, which is shaped to lit thedepression'bt. This construction gives stability to the carriage,causing it to follow its true line of travel and preventing sidewisemotion 0r play.

E is a counter-shaft, square or otherwise suitably shaped to carry withit in its revolutions a sleeve F, which takes over the same and revolveswith it, but constructed to slide 5o along its length and follow thetravel of the Auprights 3 4, and the braces 5 6.

carriage B. The counter-shaft is mounted in bearings d a' in the frameofthe machine.

The carriage B has a suitable yoke or hangers G depending therefrom, inthe lower end f of which the sleeve F is mounted in suitable bearings gg. When the carriage is moved on its ways, the depending yoke or hangersare carried with it in its movement, thereby causing the sleeve tocorrespondingly travel on its counter-shaft. A cutter-head spindle 6o His mounted on the carriage carrying a `cutter-head h and pulley t, thepulley being operated from a pulley j', mounted on the sleeve F, all ofthe parts just mentioned being supported by the carriage and travelingwith it. The travel of the carriage is effected by the screw C takingthrough internallythreaded bearing b5 for the same on the carriage. Thescrew C is mounted in bearings d2 a3 in the frame of the machine. Apulley v7o c is attached to one end of the screw, receiving motion inone direction from apulley e on the counter-shaft E. A pulley c at itsother end imparts motion to it in the opposite direction through themedium of a pulley c.

I is a suitable pattern and work supporting frame, which I. shall term avibrating frame. It is hung on fulcrums 1 1 in the frame and consists ofthe rocker-bar 2, the 8o A pattern to determine the shape of the spoketo be turned is placed between the centers 7 and 8. The stock to beoperated is placed be-` tween the centers 9 and l0. A lever 11 forces 85 the center 10 forward into the stock and holds :it in place. Gears 12and 13 are mounted, respectively, on the centers 7 and 9, a pinion 14Con a shaft 15 serving to rotate the centers 7 and 9 uniformly in thesame direction, so 9o that the cutter-head may operate on all parts ofthe stock, according to pattern. A pulley 16 communicates motion to theshaft 15. Supports '17 and 18 are provided for the centers. The support18 is adjustable length- 95 Wise of the braces by loosening andfastening the bolts securing it to same. It is preferably also dividedat 19, so that the patternsupporting center 8 may be adj usted withreference to the work-supporting center 10. Ico

K is a pressure-arm supported on pivots g2 g2. A spring 7a, one end ofwhich is secured to the carriage B and the other to the arm K, forcesthe latter toward the cutter-head. A shoe 7c takes against the pattern,which revolves between it and a shoe b, adjustably hung on an upright117 on the carriage B. After adjustment the shoe 136 maintains its po-4sition with relation to the cutter-head in the travel of the carriage.The pattern revolving and being hung on the vibrating frame and huggingthe adjusted shoe b forces the vibrating frame and the stock hung on thesame forward and back, the cutter-head cutting the stock to conform tothe pattern. A shoe 7a2 takes against the stock, supporting it againstthe thrust of the knives of the cut.- ter-head.

Motion is imparted to the counter-shaft by means of pulley e2.

For the successful and economic operation of the machine it is necessarythatthe railD, the screw-shaft C, the counter-shaft E, and the vibratingframe I be kept in proper correlation and alinemeut with each other. Thescrew-shaft and the counter-shaft must be relieved of all sidewiscstrain and binding pressure, so as to leave them perfectly free toperform their respective functions, and the cutter-head must bemaintained in the same relation to the ypattern and work supportingcenters on the vibrating frame. In the prac'- Itical operation of themachine the greatest strain is borne by the rail D, causing it to wearmost quickly and throwing the runningsurface of the rail out of propercorrelation with the screw, vibrating frame, and countershaft. In theconstructions heretofore used this rail has been a composite part ofthe.

frame, requiring a reconstruction of the screw and counter-shaftfittings upon the rail becoming worn-an expensive operation and onewhich in a short time destroyed the usefulness of the machine. In myimproved machine I provide a novel, economical, and time saving methodof restablishing the proper correlation of the parts after the rail hasbecome worn. I therefore provide the rail D, preferably of steel, whichtakes into a groove a4 in the frame of the machine. Bolts c5 a5 takethrough the frame and i'mpinge against the bottom of the rail, and bytheir adjustment the rail is brought to its proper height and alinemeut.Bolts d ab' take through the frame preferably at right angles to thebolts a5 and impinge against the side of the rail, holding it'firmly inplace after the same has been adjusted. The frame of the machine iscastof the usual grade of iron used for this purpose. The railheretofore being integral therewith has necessarily been cast of thesame material, which is subject to rapid wear. By means of my improveddevice, however, I am enabled to insert a hardened track or rail ofsteel or other suitable material and in such way that any wear may bereadily and economically taken up as soon as it occurs, the cutter-headkept in proper relative position to the centers on the vibrating frame,and the screw and counter-shaft kept continuously relieved of all sidestrains or binding pressure. I mount the drivingshaft E, the feed-screwshaft C, and the cutter-head spindle Hin substantially a vertical planein the rear part of the machine. I also place the adjustable rail D insubstantially the same vertical plane. The principal weight and workingstrain of the carriage and the cutter-head and the counter-shaft andscrewshaft connections on the carriage are therefore borne by the railD, causing it to wear most quickly, as stated, especially as heretoforeconstructed of the usual cast-iron of which the frame was composed. Thisquickly brought the bearings of the carriage B for the driving-shaft outof true and proper relation with the bearings for the driving-shaft onthe frame, as well as the bearing on the carriage B for the feed-screwshaft out of true and proper relation with the bearings for that shafton the frame, and the position of the cutter-head on the carriage B outof true and proper relation with the pattern and work supportingagencies on the vibrating frame. I bring all the parts above mentionedinto proper correlation and continuously maintain them in thatcorrelation by providing a single part-narnely, an adjustable hardenedrail Dand by the adjustment of that one part, the adjustable hardenedrail D, which I place in substantially a vertical plane with thecounter-shaft and feed-screw shaft and their connections with thecarriage and frame and the cutter-head spindle and cutter-head betweenthe cutter-head and counter-shaft. The rail D adjusts all theconnections on the carriage with relation to the frame-that is, thecounter-shaft bearing of the carriage B with relation to thecounter-shaft bearings on the frame, the feed-screw-shaft bearing on thecarriage B with relation to its bearings on the frame, and thecutter-head on the carriage B with relacion to the pattern and worksupporting agencies 011 the vibratin g framesimultaneously, theadjustment of the one partnamely, the track or rail D-raising thecounter-shaft bearing and the feed-screw-shaft bearing and thecutter-head on the carriage in a substantially vertical plane andmaintaining the plane of travel of the carriage with the parts supported thereby, enabling all the parts to be brought into andcontinuously maintained in proper correlation by the providing andadjusting of a single part. By means of my improvement I produce a moredurable as well as easier-running machine, and capable of a greateroutput with less power. The rail may at any time be readily removed andreplaned or replaced by another without change or adjustment of anyother part of the machine.

I claim l. In a spoke-lathe, the combination of a main frame, with acutter-head-carrying car- IOO IOS

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riage traveling thereon, hangers depending from the carriage, a sleevejournaled in the hangers, a pulley on the sleeve for driving thecutter-head, a counter-shaft passing through the sleeve for turning thesame, bearings on the frame for the counter-shaft, a screw-shaft forreciprocating the carriage on the frame, an internally-threaded bearingon the carriage therefor, bearings on the frame for the screw-shaft, agroove in the frame, and a vercal track in the groove, the counter-shaftwith its bearings and the cutter-head located in substantially averticalplane, with the screwshaft and the track located between the cutter-headand the counter-shaft, with means for adjusting and alining the trackwith relation to the frame, constructed and arranged for simultaneouslyadjusting the countershaft bearing, the screw-shaft bearing and thecutter-head on the carriage in substantially a vertical plane, and forreadjusting the carriage, its screw-shaft bearing and its hangerconnection with the counter-shaft with relation to the frame and thescrew-shaft bearings and counter-shaft bearings thereon, and constructedand arranged for permitting the removal of the track from the frame,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a spoke-lathe, the combination of a main frame, with acutter-head-carrying carriage traveling thereon, hangers depending 'fromthe carriage, a sleeve journaled in the hangers, a pulley on the sleevefor driving the cutter-head, a counter-shaft passing through the sleevefor turning the same, bearings on the frame for the counter-shaft, ascrew-shaft for reciprocating the carriage on the frame, aninternally-threaded bearing on the carriage therefor, bearings on theframe for the screw-shaft, a cutter-head rotatably mounted on thecarriage, a vibrating frame mounted in the main frame and arranged forguiding the stock in front of the cutter-head, a vertical groove in theframe, a vertical track in the groove, the counter-shaftwith itsbearings and the cutterhead located in substantially a vertical plane,with the screw-shaft and the track located between the cutter-head andthe counter-shaft, with the bolts a5 for giving the rail a verticaladjustment, constructed and arranged for' simultaneously adjusting thecounter-shaft bearing, thescrew-shaft bearing and the cutter-head on thecarriage in substantially a vertical plane, and for readjusting thecarriage, its screw-shaft bearing and its hanger connection with thecounter- -shaf t with relation to the frame and the screwshaft bearingsand the counter-shaft bearings thereon, and of the cu tter-head on thecarriage with relation to the stock-supporting agencies on the vibratingframe, and the set-bolts a for securing the track in its adj ustedposition, -constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposespeciiied.

3. In a spoke-lathe, the combination of a main frame, with acutter-head-carrying carriage traveling thereon, hangers depending fromthe carriage, a sleeve journaled in the hangers, a pulley on the sleevefor driving the cutter-head, a counter-shaft passing through the sleevefor turning the same, bearings on the frame therefor, a screw-shaft forreciprocatin g the carriage on the frame, an internally-threaded bearingon the carriage therefor, bearings on the frame for the screw-shaft, acutter-head rotatably mounted on the carriage, a vibrating frame rockingin the main frame and having work-supporting agencies to bring the stockto proper relation with the cu tter-head, a vertical groove a4 in theframe, a vertical track D in the groove, the countershaft with itsbearings and the cutter-head located in substantially a vertical plane,with the screw-shaft and the track located between the cutter-head andthe counter-shaft, V- shaped bearings on the upper edge of the track,rolls Z9, l), on the bottom of the carriage provided withcorrespondingly V shaped grooves Z2? and traveling on the track andarranged for preventing-sidewise motion between the track and carriage,bolts a5 taking through the frame under the track, constructed andarranged for simultaneously adjusting the counter-shaft bearing, thescrew-shaft bearing and the cutter-head on the carriage in substantiallya vertical plane, and for adjusting the track vertically and readjlisting the carriage, its screw-shaft bearing and its hanger connectionwith the counter-shaft with relation to the frame andthe screw-shaftbearings and counter-shaft bearings thereon, and of the cutter-head onthe carriage with relation to the stock-supporting agencies on thevibrating frame, and set-bolts as for securing the track in its adjustedposition, constructed and arranged, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

4L. In a spoke-lathe, the combination of a frame, a carriage travelingthereon, a spindle and cutter-head on the carriage, hangers dependingtherefrcm, a sleeve in the hangers, a counter-shaft passing through thesleeve for turning the same, and bearings on the frame for thecounter-shaft, a pulley on the sleeve, a pulley on the cutter-headspindle, with the cutter-head spindle and the cutterhead and the sleeveon the carriage and the counter-shaft and counter-shaft bearings on theframe located in substantially a vertical plane, with avertically-adjustable track for the carriage, located on the framebetween the cutter-head spindle with its cutter-head and the sleeve withthe counter-shaft and its bearings, constructed and arranged for ad?justing the cutter-head spindle and cutterhead and the sleeve on thecarriage simultaneously in substantially a vertical plane, substantiallyas described.

LA FAYETTE G. ROBINSON. YVitnesses:

PARKE S. JOHNSON, EMIL RAPP.

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